Reader photos: Pan-Mass Challenge

Having lost many loved ones to cancer, including her grandmother, Danielle MacDonald, 21, took part in her first Pan-Mass Challenge on August 6.

The two-day bike-a-thon supports cancer research. MacDonald left from Babson College in Wellesley at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, and arrived at Patriot Place in Foxboro — a 27-mile ride — 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 04 seconds later.

"Wasn't bad at all! Went by so fast," said MacDonald. Next year, she plans to do a 47-mile loop that includes the return to Wellesley.

"There's people in worse pain. I'm doing it for the cancer research," MacDonald said in an interview prior to the event.

The entry fee for the ride was $1,200, which supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. So far, MacDonald has raised $1,300. Fundraising closes in October; visit profile.pmc.org/DM0490 to continue supporting MacDonald's efforts.

PMC representatives said that 6,200 riders participated in this year's event, and more than 4,000 volunteers helped run it. Over the Pan-Mass Challenge's 37-year history, $547,000,000 has been raised for cancer research, with the goal of raising $48 million this year.

MacDonald was cheered on by her father, Paul, who has historically been involved with the event.